We had an extra fun day last Friday. Natalie and I got to join Justin in his office. The beautiful outdoors. His work had a display up at the Oregon Logging Congress Show.
The beginning of the day was a little rough. We drove out past Molalla only getting lost once and then parked our car and rode a big yellow school bus another 15 minutes up to the mountain. Justin had told me to text him when we were on the bus, but with holding Natalie who was a little afraid of the bus ride, I forgot. When we arrived, we followed the ribbon to the registration tent. I didn't figure that my lack of contact with Justin would be a big deal. I thought the booths would all be in a central flat location. I guessed wrong.
Upon my arrival at the registration tent the women in charge got me started filling out a registration form and proceeded to try and collect $15 from me. I had purposely left my wallet out of the diaper bag to lighten my load and because my husband had assured me it was free. The lady helping me was an ESL speaker and I was having a hard time understanding everything she was saying. The ladies finally agreed that I could come back later with my husband and pay, and handed me two yellow hard hats. One for me and one for Natalie, and no her's was not kid sized. They then told me after it fell off her head twice that she must wear it or OSHA will give me a $300 fine.
I was relieved to get away from the registration booth, and was sure my husband could not be far. Well after another 13 minute hike up hill packing the diaper bag, a goody bag, and the 25lb. 18 month old who's hard hat continued to spin and bounce off her head, my husband was not far. I was a bit flustered when I reached the Pierce Booth. The first person we encountered that was familiar was his boss and all I could say was, "Where is Justin?" He finally appeared and the day got better after that. It was a bit of a frustrating 20 minutes though. I am definitely glad that I work out or I may have died on that hike. :)
The rest of the day was really fun and I learned a few more things about the logging industry. For instance that the spotted owl took the Oregon Timber market from producing over 5 billion board feet of wood to under 1 billion and the market has never gone back over 1 billion. Crazy, huh?
We were both tuckered out on the drive home. Little Nat fell asleep on the bus ride out. She really loved being out in the forest and walking over all the sticks and everyone enjoyed having her there.
Justin's two babies.
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
